Church Meeting devotions: A Tough Passage - Hebrews 6:4-6

Hebrews 6:4-6            It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 

The biggest crowd in the year gathers at churches all over the planet on Sunday morning. Easter draws more people to their local congregations than at any other times of the year. People seem to understand what the Christian faith is all about and use Easter as a means of getting their lives right with God in order to create a fresh start.

It’s like the Day of Atonement and New Year’s Day all rolled into one. People need to be forgiven and seek that special absolution that only Easter can bring. They also want to be given another chance, another God blessed opportunity to begin again. Some people call this cheap grace, but others know it to be a divine gift of God’s mercy and love.

But what about today’s passage? Doesn’t it convey the idea that repentance and absolution, forgiveness and mercy are only given once to the born again or enlightened believer? The writer of Hebrews clearly states that there is no ‘do over’ or mulligan given to those who claim to be Christians. We either get it right the first time when we give our hearts to Christ or we miss the opportunity for salvation. Once saved does not mean always saved. According to this passage of scripture, we can lose everything that we once gained if we return to sinful ways, because in doing so, we shamefully crucify Christ again.

It’s a tough passage of scripture to take in and understand. It makes me worry about my own salvation and also all of those Christmas and Easter Christians who seem to take Christ’s grace for granted. Are we all just deluding ourselves and expecting Jesus to forgive us no matter what, or are there limits to His Grace after all?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we know that we fall short of Your expectations for us. Each day we sin in the same old ways and fully expect You to understand, pardon our mistakes, and put up with our sinful habits. We seem to be missing the point because You only forgive us in order to challenge our ways and change our lives. Keep us from taking this gift of grace for granted. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions of today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Holy Week drawings. It’s called “Death by Dali” and it is based upon Salvador Dali’s famous painting “Christ of St. John of the Cross.” If you would like to view a larger version of this drawing, please click on the following link: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5061/5630260156_4cd6a2e7b5_b.jpg

Church Staff Devotions: Holy Week - Just Like Us

Proverbs 12:21           No harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked have their fill of trouble.

Today’s verse from Proverbs expresses a religious idea that was prevalent in Old Testament times: the good are blessed by God; those who are evil befall all kinds of disaster.

During Holy Week, we are constantly reminded that this is not true. Christ, who was entirely good, was not protected from the pain and ignominy, suffering and shame that He endured. Instead, because He was all good, He was humiliated and wounded, abused and executed, tortured and sacrificed by people just like us. Had we been there in Jerusalem during Christ’s last week, we would have joined the mob and condemned Him.

On that day of infamy, all manner of harm befell the Righteous One. On that day, the wicked had more than their fill of bloodlust and anger, vengeance and hatred, fanaticism and bigotry.

The question we need to ask ourselves today is this: are we any different from Christ’s abusers, or does this most sacred and holiest of weeks in the year become life changing and truly meaningful to us?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, help us to take time out from the busy-ness of our tight schedules and lay aside a worthy portion of our time to think about You, Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter. Keep us from being distracted and enable us to remain focused on You. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions of today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Holy Week drawings. It’s called “New Day” and is a Maundy Thursday/Easter sunrise picture. If you would like to see a larger version of this, please visit the following link: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5223/5622811365_440f59a85b_b.jpg

Church Meeting Devotions: God the Builder - Hebrews 3:4

Hebrews 3:4    For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.

We’ve come to the end of two exciting building phases at Erin church here in Knoxville and we all feel very blessed by God. At the same time over in Maybole, Scotland, the building of the new community center and church is taking place. In both cases, the church people feel a sense of pride and renewal, of new hopes and great blessings. It’s been a long time in coming for both communities; at last we are all beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel.

Both churches have been established by God and each of them will grow if the congregations and communities are open to the presence, work, and ministry of the Holy Spirit. The future of each place depends upon the faithfulness of the people involved; without their commitment, contributions, and constancy, none of this could have been accomplished. In many ways, the work of both churches is only just beginning and this is what makes the whole experience exciting.

As we head into Holy Week, we are all given the special opportunity of allowing God to rebuild our lives. We can come to Christ on the Cross to receive His forgiveness; we can meet Him outside the tomb and be renewed forever. In Him, we have a hope that will never die; through Him, we have a bright and everlasting future. God builds everything through Jesus. We can depend upon Him.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, thank You for the blessings of building and growing, renewal and restoration that You are establishing in many churches and communities throughout the world. Let this holy and sacred time touch our people in significant and special ways. Grant us opportunities to invite and welcome other people to our churches, so that they may also experience these blessings. In Your Holy Name, we cheerfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions of today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s images are construction photos of what’s happening in Maybole and Erin. On the left is the Carrick Center and on the right is the new entrance to Erin Church. God is great!

Church Staff Devotions: Christ, Our Champion - Hebrews 2:18

Hebrews 2:18  Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.

This is one of the most important verses in the Bible and a divine promise that I cling to day after day. I honestly don’t think that I could maintain my faith without this blessing. I make mistakes again and again. I’m tempted to do wrong things repeatedly. I’m far from perfect and like everybody else, I lead a sinful life. Only Christ can rescue me from the temptations I face. Only Jesus can redeem me from the sins I still commit.

And Jesus can do this, not only because He has the divine power, but because He also knew of the human struggle and emotional wrestling that accompanies temptation. Christ was sinless, but that doesn’t mean He wasn’t goaded by the devil. Jesus obeyed God completely, but that was only accomplished by constantly overcoming temptation.

In other words, because Jesus knows what we go through, He understands our struggles and can forgive our sins. It doesn’t mean that He condones what we do or totally excuses us – if that was the case, we could rid ourselves of our consciences and do whatever we wanted. Jesus forgives us when we fail because He wants to restore us to God’s blessing, but not even He with all of His empathy about our tempting times and sinful situations can pardon us without our contrition, our sorrow, and our shame.

So what does this mean for all of us? Perhaps you’re struggling with a temptation that is breaking your resolve; maybe you’ve done something bad that you deeply regret. Whatever the facts, know this: we can come to Jesus sincerely and contritely to ask His forgiveness. He understands our predicament and only wants to restore us to God’s love. If we come to Him today, He will pardon our sins and change our lives. All we need to do is ask.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You were tempted innumerable times throughout Your life, so You perfectly understand what we go through each day. Help us to come to You with our guilt and pride, our shame and regrets so that we may place them at Your feet and put our lives back into Your hands. Forgive us for every sin that we have ever committed, whether we remember them or not. In Your Holy Name, we sincerely pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions of today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s stained glass designs for Easter. It’s called “Cross of Many Colors.” If you would like to view a larger image of the drawing, please visit the following link: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2282/2301426682_7f0b9c037f_b.jpg

Church Staff Devotions: Angels to Help Us - Hebrews 1:14

Hebrews 1: 14             Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

I think it was Billy Graham who wrote in his excellent book “Angels” that when it comes to singing God’s praises in Heaven, former sinners who are saved will sing more loudly and joyously than any of God’s angels. The reason is simple: we, who are redeemed sinners, will have more to sing about.

I don’t know what you truly think about angels, but I like what is written here in Hebrews. Angels are sent to serve those who are saved. I don’t know what form that takes, but I must admit I have sometimes been in some unpleasant situations and serious accidents where I thanked God for watching over me, as well as my family and friends.

I also believe that because we are saved, the world feels threatened by our witness and so sometimes it’s hard to be a Christian in society. Whenever we stand up for what is right, we are called ‘judgmental.’ Whenever we seek justice for the powerless, we are berated for being political. And whenever we state that Christ is the only person through whom we can obtain everlasting salvation, we are called ‘narrow-minded’ and intolerant.

That’s where the protection of God’s angels is important. The devil may try to diminish the truth and effectively squash our faith, but there are angels around us who are doing battle for us each day, to help strengthen our spirits and bolster our confidence.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, thank You for the angels around us who serve us in many ways each day because we are saved by You. Thank You for their protection and presence, their influence and encouragement. Bless all our loved ones this day with the same divine help. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

(If you would like to look at Billy Grahams’ great book on angels, please click on and visit the following link:

http://tinyurl.com/3q7j263 )

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions of today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org

Today’s image is one of John’s latest wildlife drawings. It’s called “Butterfly Banquet” and features a butterfly feasting on a marigold. If you would like to see a larger version of this drawing, please click on the following link: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5224/5578139112_00aa478d99_b.jpg

John also has a limited number of 8x10 prints of this picture available. If you’d like one, contact him by email for more information.

Church Meeting devotions: A Timely Reminder - Proverbs 6:23 & John 14:6

Proverbs 6:23 For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life.

Somehow this verse from Proverbs reminds me of Christ’s great saying: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” (John 14:6)

It reminds us that in the midst of the unknown and uncertainties, Christ is our lamp, our light to show us the way to live our lives, so that we may one day enter God’s everlasting kingdom.

It reminds us that Christ’s teaching is all the truth that we need to know in our lives. If we follow His commands and apply His teachings, we will be content and know that we are doing what God wants of us.

And it also reminds us that by allowing Christ’s Life to influence our own, He will not only accept us, He will also correct us so that we will not stray from His embrace, His encouragement, and His empowerment to challenge our ways and positively change our lives.

Isn’t it wonderful that Christ is our reliable Guide, True Teacher, and great Lover of our souls?

Prayer:             Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last. Amen    Charles Wesley

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions of today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s latest drawing in his “Bonnie Scotland” series of prints. It depicts the beautiful West of Scotland coastal town of Oban, which is also the Highland capital of Scotland’s Gaelic speaking people. The initial print of this drawing (#1 of 25) is currently being auctioned on Ebay. If you would like to view the details and see a larger version, please click on the following link: http://tinyurl.com/48uj8da

Church Staff devotions: Church - Country Club or Culture Club?

2 Timothy 2:13    If we are faithless, Christ will remain faithful, for He cannot disown himself.

Over the years, I have heard some people criticize churches by calling them “country clubs.” What the critics mean by that is that only those with the right background, faith structure, and set of beliefs are allowed into these congregations. Those churches are criticized for looking after themselves and trying to make everyone else fit their expectations. Much of the current ordination debate that we’re having and the different camps that are emerging seem to fit this type of mentality – on both sides.

Some churches are country clubs, sticking to the established rules, the old money, and traditional values. Other churches are becoming culture clubs, driven by what’s fashionable in society, seeking to be loved by everyone, and yearning to be relevant. Both types are being faithful to themselves. Both are also being faithless to Christ.

At times I worry about the future of the Church. Because of the faithlessness that’s being espoused by both sides, the Western Church is losing its voice in the world. We’re so busy contemplating our theological navels that we’re missing the point: Christ needs followers of His way, not borrowers of His Name. Our acts of self-righteousness and point-scoring agendas do not glorify Christ in any shape or form. We may win battles against each other, but at the same time we belittle Christ’s mission to the world.

Thank goodness then, that when we are at our most faithless, Christ remains faithful and will not disown Himself. He can do without the Western church and our centuries-old denominations getting in His way. Without us, Christ will still get His mission accomplished, but without Him, our country clubs and culture clubs have no future at all.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we are so out of step with You because we are marching to our own tunes. We are fickle and faithless, self-righteous and self-centered. We are allowing our agendas to destroy ourselves. We even foolishly think that without us, Your Work will never be completed.

Forgive us, Lord, for focusing on ourselves instead of Your mission. Pardon us for protecting our own rights and beliefs, instead of spreading Your teaching. Help to recover our senses and realign our hearts and minds, churches and congregations with Your Holy Spirit. In Your Sacred Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions of today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is from one of John’s vacation drawings of last year. It depicts the Scots Kirk in Savannah, Georgia. If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please click on the following link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/4817326616_ef7ff6f6bf_b.jpg